Laptop lock-up

May 18 2002
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Security and power are key issues when travelling with a notebook, writes Helen Bradley.

Notebook computers by their very size and portability are prime targets for theft. A key consideration in owning one is keeping it secure when you are travelling with it and dealing with the potential threat to private and confidential information if it is stolen.

When travelling, take particular care at airport security checks as these are popular places for thieves to work. It can help if you store your notebook in a bag that doesn't look like it contains a computer. Always carry your computer with you as carry-on baggage; don't send it as checked baggage. Ensure your computer is fully charged when you take it to the airport, in case you are required to power it up at a security check. You should also take care when leaving the computer in a hotel room which may be entered by staff when you aren't there.

It is a good idea to check that your new computer is insured - most home insurance policies can be extended to cover a notebook computer outside your home. This is seldom an option that is automatically included in your cover, however, so contact your insurance representative to see what you need to do.

There are several physical tools available to secure your notebook computer. For example, an inexpensive cable lock can be used to attach the notebook to a fixed and immovable object. You can also use a motion detecting alarm. Elsewhere, you can use a device to attach the computer to a desk or to a stand so it can be used but not easily moved.

To protect the data on your computer, consider setting a BIOS password, which will stop anyone from booting up the computer unless they can provide the correct password. To do this on a Windows PC, restart your computer and, at the startup screen, press the key indicated to enter the BIOS (this may be Esc, Delete, F2, etc ...). Inside the BIOS area, look for a startup Password option. You'll type your password twice to confirm it, then exit and reboot your computer. From now on, every time your PC starts, it will require you to enter the password.");document.write("

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Also encrypt any valuable data using an encryption tool or your program's password tool.

You should also ensure that you regularly back up valuable data in case your computer is lost or stolen. When travelling, keep your backup disks separate from the computer itself and consider using a Web storage service to back up the information. This ensures the data and computer are kept completely separate.

Whenever you can use the mains power - plug in your computer so you avoid using your batteries and so you top up their charge levels. When you're not on mains power, you'll need to minimise power consumption using the computer's power options. In Windows choose the Power Options tool in the control panel (it may also be called Power Management). Here you can set the time that the computer can be idle before it goes into a power-save mode and whether the monitor and/or hard disk are turned off when this happens. Save your settings as a custom power scheme so you can easily switch from one mode to another.

If you can afford it, invest in a second battery - some computers allow you to interchange the battery with a removable CD drive so you can almost double the amount of time you can run the notebook when not connected to mains power.

When you are leaving your PC for a period of time, put it into its sleep or hibernate mode. In this mode your current settings are saved so that when you next turn on your computer, everything is where you left it, including all the programs and files that were open.

You can also minimise power consumption by powering down or removing peripherals such as a removable CD drive. The screen is a big consumer of power so turn down its brightness and contrast and disable your screen saver.

Before travelling, check that everything works, including your email software and your dial-up connections. And carry phone-to-PC cables to match all possible phone connectors you may encounter on your trip.